Diagnostic landmines, meditation and cycling uphill

"Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Mathematics Disorder. If you've never talked to you doctor about these conditions, it should come as little surprise; they are arguably some of the stranger diagnoses floating around in the medical literature. And whatever you might think, many medical professionals say that these disorders are legitimate conditions that often warrant treatment. Yet, this acceptance within the medical community has not quelled debate on the existence of many of these conditions."

"At workshops and conferences across the country, students, counselors and psychologists in private practice throng lectures on mindfulness. The National Institutes of Health is financing more than 50 studies testing mindfulness techniques, up from three in 2000, to help relieve stress, soothe addictive cravings, improve attention, lift despair and reduce hot flashes. Some proponents say Buddha's arrival in psychotherapy signals a broader opening in the culture at large -- a way to access deeper healing, a hidden path revealed. Yet so far, the evidence that mindfulness meditation helps relieve psychiatric symptoms is thin, and in some cases, it may make people worse, some studies suggest."

"Hills are good for the heart, but many hate the effort. Here are some tips to ease the pain. ... If you're like lots of casual weekend cyclists, distance doesn't throw you. You can crank out 20, 30 miles easily on the bike path. But what gets you down, admit it, is going up."